Special votes have yet to be counted and Labour and the Greens remain hopeful it could have an edge for them and their numbers.

But until then, it's Winston's game and Winston's choice. He won't say who he's going with tonight and the only thing he'd be drawn on is that he'll make a call by the time the final results are released.

Tune in again on Sunday morning for Newshub's coverage on what happens next, with this volatile election clearly still having some surprises left in it.

11:50pm: 99 percent of the votes have been tallied and it's down to Winston.

National needs him, and Labour and the Greens need him. Winston Peters may have just 7.5 percent of the vote, but he holds the power and he knows it.

National's on 46 percent, Labour on 35.8 percent and Greens are on 5.8 percent.

By seats, National has 58, Labour 45, the Greens seven. NZ First has nine - enough to tip either across into the 61 needed for a majority.

Special votes, including those who enrolled and cast an advance vote at the same time, and overseas votes have yet to be counted, leaving the Greens' James Shaw hopeful they could still drag up some extra seats.

But Mr Peters has told people to be "patient" and won't commit to a coalition partner tonight.

11:45pm: In his first interview after his speech tonight, Bill English has said it was great to give a speech after a "good result for National".

He said his next move from here is to get in touch with Winston Peters, reiterating he's trying to find "common ground" with the NZ First leader.

He said he hasn't spoken with Mr Peters yet and wouldn't be drawn on what the negotiations might result in.

"He's indicated he doesn't want to be rushed, we don't want to be rushed," Mr English said.

"[The result is] a mandate for some change."

Mr English was clearly tired after a long and exciting night, slurring his words and often stumbling over his sentences.

11:40pm: The party appears to be over at the Labour HQ, shortly after Bill English made his speech at the National HQ.

Despite five remaining attendees enjoying themselves with a rousing dance party, the music and lights cut off abruptly just after Jacinda Ardern left the building.

The five dancers let out "a loud gasp" when it was shut down, Newshub's Daniel Rutledge says.

Meanwhile at the National HQ, people have begun filtering out slowly.

"But [there's] still a great mood in the room," Newshub's Emma Hurley says.

'Let's Get Together' began playing again after the speech finished.

11:24pm: "The voters have spoken and now we have the responsibility of working to give... a strong and stable Government," Bill English has declared.

"Just short of half of all New Zealanders have voted for National and 10 percent more than our nearest rivals."

In his speech, Mr English said the next step will be decided through negotations.

"The voters have given New Zealand First the role of forming the next Government. In the next few days we'll begin discussions with New Zealand First."

He said he would try to find "common ground" with Winston Peters.

"Being in Government is not about us. It's about delivering for New Zealanders. It's about delivering for every New Zealander. It's about our mission to strength the economy and change lives one by one."

Photo credit: Newshub.

11:16pm: With 97.5 percent of the vote counted, Bill English has arrived at the National Party HQ.

His party is sitting at 46.1 percent - earning 58 seats.

11:13pm: Labour's HQ is filled with people and the mood is still bright.

During Jacinda Ardern's speech, there was one enthusastic attendee who screamed and at one point called: "Yes Queen!"

This was not her, but another cheerful attendee - a famous drag queen known as Miss Ribena.

Photo credit: Newshub.

11:09pm: Winston Peters has re-appeared at the NZ First HQ, glass of wine in hand and clearly in a good mood.

"He's grinning ear to ear and joking with supporters," Newshub's John-Michael Swannix says. At one point he paused to sign a large cardboard cut-out of himself.

He's back after heading out about half an hour ago, after a speech warning people to "be patient" when it comes to which party he'll side with to form a Government.

He's currently behind in his Northland electorate, which has been neck-and-neck with National throughout the night.

With 87 percent of the vote counted, he's more than 1000 votes behind. He could still surge ahead and claim victory if he manages to win a decent chunk of the remaining votes to be counted.

Photo credit: Newshub.

10:59pm: Jacinda's just delivered her speech and now Bill English is making plans for his own.

Sitting on 46.2 percent, he tweeted a simple message, alongisde an image of him looking at a speech.

"Ready," he said.

He's expected to make his way to the National HQ shortly.

Meanwhile former Prime Minister Sir John Key maintains it was a good call for him to step down this year, leaving Mr English to take the reins.

"Bill's run a tremendous campaign," he said, adding he was very happy with the results so far.

10:53pm: Jacinda Ardern is making her speech, and the vote counter has just ticked over 95 percent.

Using a rugby analogy, she said she's "come off the field knowing we've gave it our all".

National is on 46.2 percent, Labour on 35.7 percent, NZ First on 7.5 percent and the Greens on 5.9 percent.

"Bill English and National have gained the largest number of votes," Ms Ardern said, adding that she had called him and told him so.

She said the final outcome will be decided by MMP, saying: "I cannot say at this point what decision other leaders will make."

One particularly enthusiastic supporter can be heard shouting during Ms Ardern's speech, at one point calling out: "YES QUEEN!"

Photo credit: Newshub.

10:47pm: Jacinda Ardern has arrived to a chorus of cheers and chanting at Labour's Auckland HQ.

It's cramped and crowded, with a horde of media and voters attending - pure pandemonium.

"This is mindblowing for Jacinda Ardern. At the beginning of the year, she was a list MP. Remember that," Newshub's Duncan Garner says.

Photo credit: Newshub.

10:36pm: Green Party leader James Shaw has taken the stage with some tough words and a slightly bizarre take on things.

Despite National holding a significant lead, Mr Shaw said it's actually Labour and the Greens who have come out triumphant.

He said once special and overseas votes are counted, NZ First, Labour and Greens will have the majority.

"New Zealanders have voted for change!" he declared.

He said he and Jacinda Ardern will "discuss pathways for a new Government" and agreed he has "some things" in common with NZ First.

Mr Shaw also said he was pleased with the 5.9 percent result they've secured, with 92 percent of the vote counted.

The party plummeted in the polls after Metiria Turei's benefit scandal and subsequent resignation, and at one point it looked as though they wouldn't make it back in Parliament.

"This has been the fight of our lives, but we're still here," Mr Shaw said.

On the current count, a Labour-Green-NZ First coalition secures 61 votes - just enough for a majority.

Photo credit: Newshub.

10:32pm: Winston Peters held a surprisingly early speech tonight and it doesn't appear to have been planned much ahead of time.

In fact, he borrowed Newshub's John-Michael Swannix's notepad in order to plot out his notes.

In the end, Mr Peters didn't reveal many details in his speech, instead saying people will have to "be patient" to see which party he might align with.

Photo credit: Newshub.

10:29pm: Ninety percent of the vote has been counted and the future is looking blue.

National's maintained its lead at 46.2 percent, with Labour more than 10 points behind on 35.7 percent.

NZ First's on 7.5 and the Greens on 5.9 percent.

By seats, National's got 58, with its partner ACT securing its single seat, Labour on 45, NZ First on 9 and Greens on 7.

They need a majority of 61 seats to form a Parliament and if things keep steady, National won't be able to govern without either NZ First or the Greens.

10:25pm: Jacinda is almost at the Labour HQ and a massive media scrum has gathered to welcome her.

As well as locals, at least 50 international media flew in to attend, Newshub's Jenna Lynch says.

10:22pm: Mana's Hone Harawira says he probably won't run again if he loses the Te Tai Tokerau seat.

He's currently trailing by more than 880 votes, with 67 percent counted, to Labour's deputy leader Kelvin Davis.

Mr Harawira has battled to score a deal for the electorate, which he used to hold, as Mr Davis is virtually guaranteed to enter Parliament anyway as a list MP.

However Mr Davis wasn't keen, at one point accusing Mr Harawira of trying to enter Parliament on "Labour's mana".

10:19pm: Former Labour leader Andrew Little says there's still a chance for Labour, despite the party trailing.

It's behind by more than 10 percentage points at the moment, with 87 percent of the vote counted.

He said special votes still have to be counted, which he says often tend towards the left.

Mr Little stood down as leader after Labour dropped to an historic low in polls, clearing the way for Jacinda Ardern to take over as boss.

10:11pm: Jacinda Ardern has headed out from her Pt Chevalier home to go to Labour's HQ.

The party is currently at 35.6 percent, with 85 percent of the vote counted.

"Obviously we hope for better," she told waiting media.

She said they weren't going to talk to Winston Peters until later.

And just before she headed out, Ms Ardern could be heard thanking several young children for the cookies they gave her.

Ms Ardern only picked up the leadership job seven weeks ago, and has already promised to stay in the job after the results are out, win or lose.

Photo credit: Newshub.

Photo credit: Newshub.

9:54pm: Winston Peters has wrapped up his campaign tonight but he's not saying whether he'll back National or Labour in Parliament.

At 7.4 percent, NZ First has still managed to lock its entry into Parliament - but while he's still holding the 'kingmaker' position, he's not committing to who he'll back tonight.

"We may not have all the cards, but we do have the main cards... The decision we'll make is not going to be a premature, but we'll make a decision in the interest of all New Zealand, and New Zealand First," he said.

He said he'll talk to his board, supporters and MPs before making any decisions.

He did promise there will be a decision "well before" October 12 and asked people to be patient.

Mr Peters is in a tight race for his Northland seat, trailing by around 40 votes behind National's Matt King with 42 percent of the vote counted.

After his bullish speech, Mr Peters made his escape, pursued by media.

Consistently sitting on 46.6 percent, National would get around 58 seats. ACT would bring it up to 59, then only two more seats would be needed to form a Government.

As the vote count continues, Labour has slid in the polls. After a valiant effort it's now down to 35.5 percent. Combined with the Greens, which is on 5.9 percent, they're still trailing National.

As it stands National will still need a coalition partner to form a Government - likely NZ First, unless the Greens take Gareth Morgan's words to heart and shift to the right.

Newshub is live on Facebook at National's election party - watch the video below.

9:31pm: The Opportunities Party's Gareth Morgan has called for the Green Party to side with National in the upcoming Government, as he made his concession speech.

The party, founded just last year, has only managed to pull together 2.1 percent of the vote, with 63 percent counted.

During his concession speech, Dr Morgan said his party has been able to "awaken the young people" and says a number of their votes won't have been counted yet as they will have cast special votes, enrolling while advance voting.

"I'm ever hopeful and I've got to be hopeful," he said, as laughter broke out across the room.

He called for the Greens to join with National instead as that's what TOP would've done if it made the threshold.

"I'm going to lay down a challenge to the Green Party. I want them to do what we would've done... and say to National, 'We will work with you. We want to work on the environment no matter who the Government is'," he said.

"The question I'm asking the Green Party, is are you actually green? From where I stand you're only green part time and that's not good enough for New Zealand."

Photo credit: Newshub.

9:24pm: John Key's old electorate of Helensville is sure to remain blue, with candidate Chris Penk taking out an incredible 6500 vote lead over Labour's Kurt Taogaga.

The results brought out a cheer at National's HQ, where Mr Penk hasn't been able to attend as his wife only just had a baby.

Instead, he's being represented by a cardboard cutout - and attendees have been pleased to pose with it.

Photo credit: Newshub.

9:16pm: Halfway there and National is widening its lead over Labour.

Labour's fallen back to 35.5 percent, with National still sitting at around 46.7 percent.

With NZ First on 7.3 percent and Greens on 5.9 percent, Labour's running out of chances to form a Government.

When it comes down to seats, Labour, the Greens and NZ First only make up 60 seats - just shy of the 61 needed to form a majority.

9:09pm: 42 percent of the vote has been counted and the Greens are sitting on 6 percent.

It's not as high as they polled earlier in the year, but still they've managed to claw back after co-leader Metiria Turei's resignation. At one point it looked like they wouldn't make the 5 percent threshold.

The result's just high enough for newcomer and Auckland mayoral candidate Chlöe Swarbrick to come into Parliament as a list MP, while other high-flier Golriz Ghahraman would just miss out, along with Mojo Mathers, who was New Zealand's first deaf MP.

At the Greens' HQ in Auckland, the energy is "buzzing", Newshub's Scott Palmer says.

"But no one seems super happy except Chlöe, Golriz and their supporters. No one watching the live polling updates is smiling," he says.

9:02pm: With the gap widening in Northland, Winston Peters has finally reappeared at his own party after vanishing around an hour ago.

But his disappearance hasn't upset his supporters. Sixty-five-year-old Barry Goodey took the opportunity to thank NZ First's leader for the Gold Card.

She may be Labour's leader now and sitting comfortably in the stronghold of Mt Albert (currently 5000 votes ahead of her National competitor, with 30 percent counted), but last election she was battling for Auckland Central.

There's a pitched battle raging in the electorate now and the race is too close to call.

With 23 percent of the vote counted, National's Nikki Kaye is digging in and holding on with a mere 250 vote lead over Labour's Helen White.

Coming in third is the Green's Denise Roche, almost 2000 votes behind Ms Kaye.

As the count keeps going, the lead is constantly changing. Who will claim the seat remains to be seen.

8:36pm: Winston Peters is at risk of losing his Northland seat, but you wouldn't be able to tell if you were at the NZ First HQ in Russell.

Newshub's John-Michael Swannix says the mood is "jubilant" and people are "pretty stoked".

"They're optimistic it's going to get better for them," he says.

Northland had been a National stronghold before Mr Peters claimed victory. This election it's tight. With 15 percent of the vote counted, National's Matt King is leading over Mr Peters by around 100 votes.

Young rising Greens star Chloe Swarbrick has only 1137 votes at this stage. If the Greens win 5.6 percent of the party vote, Ms Swarbrick, 23, will enter Parliament as a list MP, becoming the youngest MP in 42 years.

Whoever wins Maungakiekie will become new MP - and the electorate is considered a bellweather seat which reflects a general mood of the nation as a whole.

Labour held the seat between 1999 - 2005, before National claimed it and has held it since.